Devices and methods of controlling manipulation of virtual objects on a multi-contact tactile screen

• US 20070198926A1
• Filed: 02/23/2005
• Published: 08/23/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nissha Printing Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Jazz Mutant Co.
• Inventors: Largillier, Guillaume, Joguet, Pascal
• Granted Patent: US 8,049,730 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/702
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04104 Multi-touch detection in digitiser, i.e. details about the simultaneous detection of a plurality of touching locations, e.g. multiple fingers or pen and finger
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/045 using resistive elements, e.g. a single continuous surface or two parallel surfaces put in contact
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/047 using sets of wires, e.g. crossed wires
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/055 by switches with variable impedance elements
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/34 Switch arrangements, e.g. keyboards or mechanical switches specially adapted for electrophonic musical instruments
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/096 using a touch screen touch screen note input, e.g. using a displayed keyboard G10H2220/241; personal digital assistant [PDA] G10H2230/015
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/241 on touchscreens, i.e. keys, frets, strings, tablature or staff displayed on a touchscreen display for note input purposes

Abstract

A process for controlling computerized equipment with a device including a multi-contact bidimensional sensor that acquires tactile information and a calculator that generates command signals as a function of the tactile information, including graphical objects on a screen placed under a transparent multi-contact tactile sensor, each graphical object associated with at least one specific processing rule such that the sensor delivers during each acquisition phase a plurality of tactile information, and each piece of the tactile information forms an object of a specific processing determined by its localization relative to a position of one of the graphical objects.

Claims

1. A process for controlling computerized equipment with a device comprising a multi-contact bidimensional sensor that acquires tactile information and a calculator that generates command signals as a function of the tactile information, comprising:

generating graphical objects on a screen placed under a transparent multi-contact tactile sensor, each graphical object associated with at least one specific processing rule such that the sensor delivers during each acquisition phase a plurality of tactile information, and each piece of the tactile information forms an object of a specific processing determined by its localization relative to a position of one of the graphical objects.

2. The process according to claim 1, wherein the device uses a matrix sensor and the process further comprises a sequential scanning stage of the sensor.

3. The process according to claim 1, wherein the specific processing comprise abounding zone detection of a contact zone of an object with the tactile sensor.

4. The process according to claim 1, wherein the specific processing comprise detection of barycenter.

5. The process according to claim 1, further comprising stages for refreshing graphical objects as a function of the specific processing carried out during at least one previous acquisitions stage.

6. The process according to claim 1, further comprising a stage for editing graphical objects including generating a graphical representation from a library of graphical components and functions and determining an associated processing rule.

7. The process according to claim 1, wherein an acquisition frequency of the tactile information is greater than 50 hertz.

8. The process according to claim 1, wherein the device communicates with the computerized equipment via an Ethernet link.

9. A device for controlling computerized equipment comprising:

a multi-contact bidimensional sensor for acquisition of tactile information;

a viewing screen arranged under the bidimensional tactile sensor;

a memory for recording graphical objects that are each associated with at least one processing rule and

a local calculator that analyzes positions of acquired tactile information and applies a processing rule as a function of the position relative to the position of the graphical objects.

10. The device according to claim 9, connected to a hub for forming a network of controllers.

11. The device according to claim 9, wherein the multi-contact bidimensional tactile sensor is a resistive tile.

12. The device according to claim 9, further comprising a network output that receives a network cable.